Copyright 2004 The Trust for Public Land

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2 TPL Conservation Finance Since, 1996, we have helped create almost $25 billion for parks and open space nationally In 2006, we assisted with 33 winning measures generating $4.8 billion for parks and open space TPL s winning measure success rate is 84% since

3 Defining Conservation Finance Creating new public dollars for land conservation; By using traditional and non-traditional funding mechanisms; At fiscal levels that are saleable; For purposes that are high priorities with the electorate. 3

4 TPL s s Conservation Finance Services Technical Assistance Campaign Assistance Feasibility Research Public Opinion Surveys Program Recommendations Ballot Measure Design Legislative Support Public opinion surveys and focus groups Strategic campaign planning Campaign management and fundraising Selection of media professionals Message development, communications Compliance with campaign finance laws 4

5 LandVote Ballot Measures

6 Ballot Measures measures 133 measures 219 measures 140 measures 180 measures 143 measures passed (75%) 99 measures passed (74%) 164 measures passed (75%) 111 measures passed (79%) 134 measures passed (74%) $5.5 billion created $1.2 billion created $4.1 billion created $1.7 billion created $6.7 billion created 6

7 Conservation Finance: 84% of Measures Passed! Year # of TPL Measures Wins Conservation Funds Approved $0.6 billion $0.2 billion $4.1 billion $0.9 billion $3.8 billion $0.7 billion $5.3 billion $0.8 billion $2.4 billion $0.8 billion $4.8 billion Total $24.4 billion 7

8 Arizona Local Conservation Ballot Measures Year # of Measures Wins Conservation Funds Approved $509.7 million $46.8 million $20.4 million $19.8 million $0 million $553.9 million $23 million $17.1 million Total $1.19 billion 8

9 Who is Creating Funding? Since 1994, Voters Have Approved 1,274 Park and Open Space Ballot Measures, Authorizing $31 Billion in Conservation Funding* State County Successful Measures 100% = 1,274 3% 18% Cons. Funds Approved 100% = $31 B 39% Municipal 76% 35% Special District 3% 24% 2% Source: The Trust for Public Land s LandVote Database *Note: This does not include legislatively authorized spending programs, such as those in Florida, New York, and Maryland, which were not submitted directly to voters Copyright 2004 The Trust for Public Land 9

10 Passage Rates are Consistently High Conservation Ballot Measures Pass Nearly 80% of the Time, With Voter Support Nearly 60% Across All Jurisdictions Success Rates by Jurisdiction $ Approved % Pass Jurisdiction Type # Fail # Pass Total ($ billion) by Juris Avg. "Yes" State % 61% County % 59% Municipal , % 59% Special District % 56% Total 391 1,274 1, % 59% Source: The Trust for Public Land s LandVote Database 10

11 Federal Funding for Land Conservation LWCF Offshore Drilling as Funding Source National Parks, Forests, Fish and Wildlife and state grants Grant Programs Forest Legacy Farmland Protection Program Endangered Species Coastal and Estuarine Program TEA 21 State Revolving Funds (Water) 11

12 Scale of FY05 Federal Conservation Dollars LWCF -- $255m $410m in FY03 $573m in FY02 $600 Forest Legacy -- $65m FRPP -- $110m NAWCA -- $38m FY05 Total: $470m $500 $400 $300 $200 $100 $- FY02 FY03 FY04 FY05? LWCF, FLP and NAWCA Source: The Conservation Fund 12

13 Why Local Conservation Finance is Essential Local funding is the foundation of any long-term land conservation efforts, including those to protect drinking water sources External funding federal, state, private can be an important, but secondary, means of completing a land conservation project Competition for external funding is fierce and may not be reliable due to ever-changing state and federal budget circumstances 13

14 We ve barely scratched the surface Only 23 of the 100 fastest growing counties in the U.S. have attempted a conservation finance measure. Those counties have generated $858.4 million in conservation funds. 14

15 Critical Steps for a Successful Ballot Measure Step 1 Step 2 Step 3 Step 4 Step 5 Feasibility Research Public Opinion Survey Program Recommendations Ballot Language Campaign 15

16 Step1: Feasibility Research Explore fiscal capacity and finance options Evaluate legal issues and election history Assess open space, park and conservation priorities 16

17 Step 2: Public Opinion Surveys Determine potential level of public support for financing parks and open space Test voter priorities, sample ballot language, spending tolerance, fiscal safeguards 17

18 Step 3: Program Recommendations Covering the choice of funding mechanism, the amount and duration of financing, expenditure priorities and public accountability Step 4: Measure Design Design measure to meet legal requirements, reflect popular priorities and attract public and political support 18

19 Step 5: Win a Campaign Structure the campaign governance committees and create plan for fundraising Design communications and media mix Get out the vote 19

20 Step 6: Implementation Best Practices 20

21 Coconino County, Arizona Home to national treasures such as the Grand Canyon, Sunset Crater National Monument and Anasazi Indian Ruins Voters passed a 10-year sales tax increase with 62% of the vote in 2002 The measure is expected to generate $33 million for land, wetlands, and wildlife protection 21

22 Pima County, Arizona TPL Conservation Finance team provided technical assistance for a $174.3 million bond approved by 65% of voters in May, 2004 The bond protects open space and natural habitats. This includes the protection of environmentally sensitive areas such as the Sonoran Desert 22

23 How TPL Can Help Provide Independent Technical Assistance Help craft a measure that reflects voters priorities Advise on Ballot Language Work with volunteers 23

24 TPL is the Leading Provider of Conservation Finance Information in the U.S. 24

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